Lusaka dynamos is a club that was formed in 1979 by Hanif Adams, a local business man. The clubs nickname is “The Elite” and it lives up to its billing by way of the profile it commands in the media and general public.
Having a good command in the media is yet to translate into winning trophies for the Lusaka based Super League side. Under the guidance of the experienced coach Danny Kabwe last season the team only managed to finish a place outside the top ten when they ended up on eleventh position with 51 points with a negative goal difference.
This was a downward movement from the 2017 season when former Chipolopolo boss Patrick Phiri was at the helm and managed to finish in the top five just seven points behind fourth placed Green Buffaloes.
In contrast between the past two seasons, in 2017 Lusaka Dynamos scored 44 goals and conceded 34 representing a negative 10 goal difference. Last season, they scored 47 goals while allowing 48 representing negative 1 goal difference.
At the start of the season there was a lot of expectations from the fans following the heavy investment that was injected in the team that saw the coming together of their most valued striker Chris Mugalu (in 2017), with other best talented players like the Namibian Tiberius Lombard, former Power Dynamos forward Fwayo Tembo, Clatus Chama (now at Simba SC), Sydney Kalume, Aubrey Funga among others. One would have expected that this well assembled “Elite” squad would be fighting for honors but alas they went trophless again.
WHAT WENT WRONG?
The frustration in the squad became visible for all to see as some senior players went AWOL or in some cases didn’t turn up for training sessions. This series of drama had a negative effect on how the team was to end up in the league standing.
This was mainly a result of the financial troubles that the club had encountered midway through the season. The club had punched above their weight with an all star squad that needed huge sums to maintain.
WHAT NEXT FOR ELITE?
The 2019 season looks promising for the Elite after acquiring new players from across the continent. The team has played a number of pre-season friendly encounters with the likes of Bidvest Wits of South Africa during the Johannesburg camp training whom they beat by a 1-0 score-line before losing 3-1to Highlands Park.
Other teams they have played in the preseason friendlies are Forest Rangers (lost 1-0), Green Eagles (lost 3-4, 2-3), Prison Leopards (won 2-1: lost 1-0), Lumwana Radiants (won 2-0), and Circuity City (abandoned LD leading 3-1).
The new look Elite features a blend of youth and experience with the likes of Cameroonian Walters Abasi, George Chilufya, Chris Mugalu, Emmanuel Habasimbi, Paul Banda, Marvin Jere, Namibian national team midfielder Willy Stephanus, former Nampundwe left back Mathews Ngoma and goalkeeper Monga Ndala.
Other notables are Fwayo Tembo, former Zanaco midfielder Zimiseleni Moyo, former ZANACO striker Kwame Attram, Godfrey Chibanga who plays as a defensive midfielder, former Lumwana Radiant midfielder Hosea Silwimba, Robby Katongo and former Kabwe Warriors winger Nelson Tembo.
With this machinery one would bank on Lusaka Dynamos performing well going by the classy names the team has managed to acquire. A reality check for the Lusaka based team is in the hoofing as the kickoff date draws closer each passing day.
Lusaka Dynamos will be playing their homes matches at Woodlands Stadium when the league kicks off on 27th January,2019.
Can this be a year that Elite can challenge for the title? Have your say.
